LARRY CASHA FOR ASSEMBLY
WWW.CASHAFORASSEMBLY.ORG

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Gregory Andres
January 25, 2007 973-263-1114

“Stripped, but ‘Strong’�
Governor calls comptroller bill “strong� even as former
co-sponsor opposes it in Senate vote

(MONTVILLE, NJ) – On Monday the Democrat-controlled state senate met to vote on the severely limited state comptroller position. The measure’s subsequent failure can be attributed to the fact that a group of Hudson County Democrats essentially stripped the post of its powers by limiting its scope only to state government, removing any audit of local governments or school districts. Leading the charge against the shell post was a former co-sponsor of the bill, Senator Barbara Buono. Senator Buono compared it to the (previously created) inspector general post, saying that the two are virtually the same, “except the comptroller is just weaker."

However, the Governor (as quoted by Associated Press writer Tom Hester, Jr.) said “I like the bill … I think it’s strong.�

“The state comptroller created by this bill is anything but strong,� said Larry Casha, the 26th District Assembly Candidate. “What New Jersey needs is an independent state auditor that is hired, not elected or appointed. An elected auditor would be beholden to the electorate, constantly in fear of losing reelection because his recommendations were not popular enough. An appointed auditor would be beholden to governor, constantly in fear of being removed from his post because the governor was not pleased with his recommendations.

“Furthermore, this independent auditor must have subpoena power and be able to audit every last government entity in New Jersey. And, so that there can be no possibility for impropriety to occur, the auditor would be banned from doing business with the state for a set period of time after his term expired.

“Let’s face it, we need wholesale change in Trenton, but enacting real change requires courage. Unfortunately, courage, like reform, is just another dirty word to the Democrat’s machine in Trenton. They will not only refuse to support reform, but they continue to purposefully derail any legislation that threatens their own lined pockets. If we cannot control the runaway spending in our State’s capitol, how can we even begin to control taxes? An independent auditor ought to be a top priority for our legislature and I will fight to create this position as a member of the Assembly.�

The 26th District includes fifteen municipalities in Morris and Passaic Counties including: Bloomingdale Borough, Butler Borough, Chatham Borough, East Hanover Township, Florham Park Borough, Hanover Township, Kinnelon Borough, Lincoln Park Borough, Montville Township, Morris Plains Borough, Parsippany-Troy Hills Township, Pequannock Township, Pompton Lakes Borough, Riverdale Borough, and West Milford Township.

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Paid for by Casha for Assembly, Richard Clawson, Treasurer